Improvement in wind-wheels



NITED STATES nPATiiNT rricE.

IMPROVEMENT IN WIND-WH EELS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 35,236, `dated May 13, 1862.

.To if-,ZZ whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM HOPPER, of Onion Grove, in the county of Cedar and State of Iowa, have invented a new and Improved Wind-NVheel; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which- Figure 1 represents a longitudinal vertical section of my invention. Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the saine.

Similar letters of reference "in both figures indicate corresponding parts.

This invention consists in the arrangement of a longitudinally-sliding rotary rod connecting with a cross-head, to which motion is imparted'either by hand or by the action of a wind-board and by an endless chain, in combination with ropes or lines leading from the outer end of said sliding rod to the sails in such a manner that by imparting to the rod a longitudinally-sliding motion the sails are either drawn in or drawn out, as the case may be, and that by combining the wind-board with said rod the speed of the wind-wheel is regulated by the force of the wind.

To enable those skilled in the art to make and use my invention, I will proceed to describe it with reference to the drawings.

The shaft A, to which the wind-wheel B is secured, is journaled in boxes a h, the box a being secured to the rim of the circle O, and the box h being attached to a bridge-tree, c, both ends of which are firmly fastened to the circle C. The two boxes d h are arranged in such relation to each other that the shaft A is in an inclined position, as clearly shown in Fig. l of the drawings, andthe circle C rotates by` means of friction-wheels d on an annular platform, D, which is supported by pillars e, said annular platform being provided with a groove, f, to guide and retain the friction-wheels d. A lever, E, catching on pins or studs g, serves to turn the circle O on the annular platform D for the purpose of setting the wind-wheel in the wind.

' l The wheel B has eight (more or less) arms,

h, each provided with a cap, i, each of which has two arms or anges, jji, one to connect to the next preceding and the other to the next Succeeding arm by means of rods k, as clearly shown in Fig. 2. The arms 7i are braced by rods l m, and from the rods k the sails F are suspended. Said sails are triangular and their lower corners or points are firmly connected to a rope or ring, n, on the shaft A. Their upper edges are secured by meansof rings o to the rods 75,'and by sliding said rings on the rods the sails are either taken in or drawn out, as may be desired. One of the rings o on one corner of each sail is fastened to the arm h to which the sail is attached, and the rings o* on the loose corners are secured to ropes p. Each of these ropes serves to operate two sails, as will be presently explained.

The shaft A is hollow, and a rod, G, passes through its longitudinal center. This rod rotates with the shaft, but it is connected with the saine in such a manner that it can freely move in a longitudinal direction. Its rear end is provided with a projecting ring or shoulder, q, .that is retained by and-turns in the cross-head H, and to its front end a disk, r, is attached, to which the ropes p are fastened. Each of said ropes passes from the disk over a small pulley, S, near the front end of shaft Band over a sheave, t, on the outer arm or flange, j, of each alternate cap to the 'ring o* on the loose corner of the corresponding sail, and from said ring over a pulley, u, secured to the inner side of each alternate arm h to a sheave, o, on the inner ange, fr', of each alternate cap and down to apulley or hole, fw, in the shaft A behind the arms h, and through said hole to the disk r. By moving the rod G in the direction of arrow l, Fig. l, the several sails are simultaneously drawn out, and by moving the rod G in the opposite direction the sails are drawn in.

The cross-head H, which carries the rear end of rod G, slides in two ways, I, which extend from the bridge-tree c in a direction opposite to the shaft A. To the outside of said ways a stirrup, J is pivoted, which raises up to the same height as the wind-wheel, and to the upper ends of which the wind-board K is rigidly attached. The lower-ends of said stirrup extend below the ways I, and they form the bearings for a drum, L, from which two ropes, c', extend over pulleys M M', as clearly shown in the drawings. VThe pulleys M are secured to an arbor, a', j ournaled in the ways I close to the bridge-tree c, and thepulleys M are fastened to an arbor, b', near to the rear end of the ways I, and the two ends of each oit' the ropes c are 'tirmiyattztehed to theerosshead II. By turning` the drum L in one direction, therefore, the cross-head II, with rod G, is moved toward the rear endsol the ways I and the sails are taken in, and by turning the drum in the opposite direction the sails are drawn out.

The drum L eonneets by gear-wheels d ci with :t hund-wheel, j", so that it earn. be rotated by hund or when the hand-wheel is fastened by means of it pin the head His moved by the action of the wind on the wind-board K. A sudden gust of wind will oree the y wind-board back, and thereby the @ross-head II is moved toward the rear end of ways I, and

a certain amount of sail is taken oli' before 1 the speed of the wind-wl'xeei changes. It' the wind 1noderzites,ziJ weight that muy be suspended from the lower ends of siirrups J throws the same back to their original position. The motion of the wind-wheel is transmitted to the upright arbor N by bevehgear g. The aetion of this wi 11d-wheel is perfeetiy sure, its motion is uniform and seif-reguiat ing', :1nd it can be ensiy adjusted, according' to the power of the existing wind.

I [ming thus fully described my invention, what I ehiiin as new, und desire to secure by Letters Patent, .is-

r)The nrrangem ent of the longitudinal] y-siiding rotary rod G and ropes Q3, connecting' with the sails F in the nmnner herein described, in combination with the Cross-head II, pivoted Stirrup J, ropes or Chains c', and ind-board l K, :nl constructed and operating snbsmnn tin'lly as and for the purpose set forth.

\VILLIA\I IIOPPER.

l\Vtnesses:

(. O. BU'rroN, LEWIS PHELPS. 

